The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given a note to a senior American embassy official that 10 American diplomats have been expelled and should leave Russian territory by May 21.
“This measure is a tit-for-tat response to the hostile actions carried out by the US side against a number of Russian Embassy employees in Washington, and the Russian Consulate General in New York, who were groundlessly declared persona non grata,” Moscow said. Other measures will follow, warned Russia.
Tensions along its European side are mostly over the Ukrainian issue. Western countries have accused Russia of mobilizing tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine. Europeans fear a Russian invasion of the country.
Since Russia announced annexing Crimea in 2014, relations with the West took a sour turn for the worse, marking a new low not seen since the Cold War. In fact, the most striking indicator of strained relations between Russia and the West came after the United States announced a raft of sanctions targeting Russia in mid-April.
These include expelling 10 Russian diplomats and banning direct purchases of Russian debt bonds issued by Russia’s Central Bank, National Wealth Fund or Ministry of Finance. In a separate move, sanctions are planned against some 17 Russian officials from President Putin’s inner circle. READ MORE
